Weekend tolls higher than $5 considered (on Golden Gate Bridge)

marinij ^

[chance33_98]

Weekend tolls higher than $5 considered  

By Mark Prado Golden Gate Bridge officials will seek funding to study charging higher tolls when the span is most congested: on weekends.

An increase in the current $3 toll - $4 for FasTrak users, $5 for those who use cash - is already set for Sept. 1 to help offset a projected $441 million deficit over the next five years.

Now the district will look at "congestion pricing," essentially charging more than $5 for motorists who cross at the busiest times. The idea is people would avoid the bridge when tolls are more, easing traffic.

On most Bay Area bridges, congestion is heaviest during the morning and evening commutes.

Generally, that is not the case on the Golden Gate Bridge. Its heaviest periods are on the weekends when tourists and locals drive to the bridge to sightsee. They mix with those returning to San Francisco from weekend sojourns to West Marin, the Wine Country and parts north, often causing traffic to back up on the Waldo Grade.

"When all is said and done, there could be a higher toll on the weekends, but we haven't even started to study it yet," said Mary Currie, bridge district spokeswoman.

The district plans to seek federal money to study the idea.

"We want to see if congestion/value pricing is something that would be beneficial on the Golden Gate Bridge given our unique transportation profile," Currie said.

There could be financial benefit for the district: increased toll revenue and eligibility for federal and state funds for partaking in the program.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission - the Bay Area's transportation planning agency - looked at congestion pricing for the Bay Bridge in the mid-1990s.

"It was promising, but we were never able to get the political support to test it out," said Joe Curley, MTC spokesman.

The MTC will recommend congestion pricing in legislation calling for toll increases on the Bay Bridge. The agency suggests a $4 toll during commute hours and a $2 toll at all other times.

An MTC poll of 900 Bay Area residents showed 62 percent support for the idea, Curley said.

"We see it as a way to improve transbay traffic," Curley said.

There are several variable-priced toll lanes operating in the United States, including in Southern California. Interstate 15 in San Diego County and State Route 91 in Orange County use variable pricing.

The facilities charge tolls to users that vary by time of day, with the highest rates charged during peak commute periods and lower rates charged during off-peak periods. Carpools typically are charged a reduced rate or allowed free.

[chance33_98]

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission - the Bay Area's transportation planning agency - looked at congestion pricing for the Bay Bridge in the mid-1990s.

"It was promising, but we were never able to get the political support to test it out," said Joe Curley, MTC spokesman.

Gosh, I wonder why?

[Diogenesis]

It was the superior transportation system of the US
that enabled it to shatter the Soviet Union
and provide for TWO handheld calculators (TI and HP)
when the Soviets still had to have sliderules.

Now, politicians stiffle this through taxes.

A very very dumb -but greedy- move.

[Guillermo]

They should just charge a million dollars to each car. They could wipe out the deficit in no time, and think of all the extra money they would have to spend "for the children".

[coloradan]

Gate Bridge officials will seek funding to study charging higher tolls when the span is most congested: on weekends.

Doncha just love government? Maybe they can be like Florida and just have police officers detain drivers at gunpoint, to fill in market research surveys.

[Between the Lines]

Its heaviest periods are on the weekends when tourists and locals drive to the bridge to sightsee.

The problem is not the locals but the tourists. By raising the price during peak times you are only pricing the locals out as the tourists would gladly pay the $5 to say 'I drove across the Golden Gate Bridge.' The bridge was not created as a tourist attraction but for the locals and business that need it. No matter how high you raise the rates you will still have the same problem, just with fewer locals using the bridge. I would think a better solution would create local/business and tourist lanes. While the tourist lanes back up, the local/business traveler (perhaps a special sticker on the vehicle could designate it as such) would breeze through in their own lanes and the bridge would be serving its purpose while still being a tourist draw. Charge the tourist as much as you want they will pay anything, but leave the local/business commuter alone.

[jiggyboy]

If the bridge were run by a private company for profit, that company would certainly have considered time-of-day pricing, just as restaurants have "early bird" specials, hotels have different rates for weekdays vs weekends, airlines charge less for red-eye flights, etc. I say go for it.

[GSWarrior]

The Bride district also runs the Golden Gate Transit bus lines and a ferry service from Sausalito to SF. Why these are not run by private companies is anyone's guess. But to do so would mean less money coming into the coffers and (gasp) some of those bureaucrats might be out of work.

This is such a scam.

[GSWarrior]

That should be "Bridge" district.